Banjo and similar musical instrument



N. GREENOP BANJO AND SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 25. 1926 April 3, 1928.

lNVE/Y Toe fiaero/v GE EN Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORTON GREENOP, OF LEIGH-ON-SEA, ENGLAND.

BANJO AND SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed March 23, 1926, Serial No. 96,801, and in Great Britain May 4, 1925.

This invention relates to banjos and similar musical instruments having a vellum head, and has for its object improvements in the construction of such instruments which result in a considerable increase in volume of tone. It is common practice to fit a metal resonator plate to the back of a banjo or the like in order to increase the volume of tone and deflect same forwardly,

l0 and the present invention incorporates such a resonator as an integral part of the body of the instrument, although it is known that in zither type instruments the usual wooden back constitutes a resonator to a certain extent. I

The invention which includes a feature well-known in connection with banjos and similar musical instruments having a vellum head, namely a dished plate arranged within an outer wooden hoop, with its base towards the back of the instrument, is characterized by a construction wherein the dished plate, which is of metal, is substantially equal in depth to, or nearly the full depth of the outer hoop and contains within it the vellum-carrying part and is flanged at its outer edge, said flange seating upon the front edge of the outer hoop.

Other novel constructional features in- 50 troduced in carrying out the invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In order that the invention may be completely understood, a preferred construction 5 of instrument in accordance therewith will 7 be hereinafter described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of the head portion of a banjo constructed according to the invention; and,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the head portion of the instrument shown comprises a continuous outer I wooden hoop 1 and a dished metal plate 2 of nearly the full depth of the said wooden hoop 1, said dished plate 2 being formed with an external flange 3 at its outer edge which seats down on to 5 the front edge of the wooden hoop 1 and is secured to it by screws 4. The dished plate 2 contains within it the vellum-carrying part of the instrument which comprises an inner metal hoop 5 whose upper edge 6 on which the vellum 7 presses, 1s inturned and rounded off, said hoop 5 being formed with an exterior flange 6 at its lower edge.

The inner hoop 5 is raised from the fioor of the dished hoop 2 by means of distance pieces 9, in the form of tubular metal pillars, and through each of said tubular distance pieces passes a vellum-straining bolt 10. A plurality of such vellum-straining bolts 10 are provided at points throughout the circumference of the head and each passes also through the floor of the dished plate 2 and through the flange 8 of the inner hoop 5. Each bolt 10 has one end shaped to form a hook 11, whilst at its other end it is screwthreaded to receive a clamping nut 12 which screws up against the back of-the dished plate 2.

The hooks 11 of the bolts 10 engage a vellum-straining ring 13 which surrounds the inner hoop 5, the doubled'edge of the vellum being clamped between such parts in the usual manner.

The pillar distance pieces 9 may be either parallel-sided or tapered and of circular or other cross-sectional shape.

The sound passes from within the inner hoop 5 through the spaces between the pillars 9 and is deflected forwardly and outwardly by the dished plate 2.

The floor or base of the dished plate .2 may be stepped if desired, as illustrated, and the relative depths of the said plate and the outer wooden hoop 1 is such that the, tightening nuts 12 do not stand out beyond the level of the back of the said outer hoop.

I claim 1. In a banjo, an outer wooden hoop, a metal resonator plate within said hoop and comprising a central resonating portion and an upstanding wall having an offset flange secured to said wooden hoop, a vellum oarry ing ring located within the resonator plate and having oppositely offset flanges, elements for spacing one of said flanges of the vellum carrying ring from the resonator plate, a vellum straining ring surrounding the vellum carrying ring, and bolts engaging said vellum straining ring and passing through the resonator plate thereby to press said vellum mounted on said vellum straining ring against the vellum carrying ring and pressing the latter against said spacing elements.

2. In a banjo, an outer wooden hoo a metal resonator plate within said hoop flaving its side Wall extending toward the front edge of said hoop and formed with a flange secured to said edge, a metal vellum carrying ring located Within the central portion of the resonator plate, a flange on the bottom of said vellum carrying ring, tubular sleeves for spacing said flange from the resonator plate, a vellum straining ring surrounding the vellum carrying ring, and bolts engaging said vellum straining ring and passing through said tubular sleeve.

8. A banjo including an outer Wooden hoop, a resonator secured to the front face of the hoop and having the resonator portion thereof disposed adjacent the rear side of the hoop, a vellum carrying ring having a bottom flange and said ring being located Within the resonator plate and above the bottom thereof, tubular elements for spacing said bottom flange from the resonator plate, a vellum straining ring cooperating With the vellum on the vellum carrying ring to stretch the same, and bolts engaging said ring and resonator plate thereby to clamp said ring, vellum carrying ring and resonator plate together.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature hereto this 25th day of February,

NORTON GEEENOP. 

